National strategic choices for research, development and innovation policy and activities

The Multiannual Plan for the Use of Government Research and Development Funding states that Finland’s future success will be built on strategic choices in research and development. The Research and Innovation Council decided on the national strategic choices for research, development and innovation policy and activities in November 2025. 

These national strategic choices are:

• data and data-based value creation  
• disruptive technologies  
• health and wellbeing  
• climate, environment and the Arctic dimension, and  
• security, resilience and defence.

The Council also defined two spearheads for developing the RDI system: increasing risk-taking capacity in RDI and attracting RDI investments to Finland.  A key objective set for national RDI policy in June of 2024 is to strengthen RDI cooperation between businesses and research organisations.

Strategic choices guide the development of RDI activities

The national strategic choices for RDI policy and activities aim to boost sustainable growth, promote renewal and strengthen comprehensive security.

The choices serve to define the needs of different administrative branches and actors when it comes to developing and targeting RDI activities. The goal is to strengthen national RDI policy and communicate our priorities even more clearly to international partners. The choices will have a long-term impact.

Five strategic choices that reflect global transitions

The five national strategic choices respond to societal and global challenges that Finland has the competence to tackle. The choices are interlinked and partly overlapping, and effective RDI activities will also be created at their intersections.

Data and data-based value creation

The importance of data and data sharing for RDI activities and the competitiveness, exports and growth of companies has increased. Society and the economy are moving towards a data-driven, real-time era of intense automation through artificial intelligence. Finland has extensive public and private sector data resources and is well positioned to harness them more effectively. Supercomputers and quantum computers, AI expertise, data management environments, transmission networks and a leading role in the digital space are among Finland’s key strengths when attracting international talent, businesses and RDI investments and building international RDI cooperation. There is significant potential to boost growth and increase productivity.

Disruptive technologies

Disruptive technologies are emerging or completely novel technologies that will bring about radical changes in society and the economy. Finland’s strengths – such as cybersecurity, space technologies, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and semiconductors (including chips), as well as biotechnologies and gene technologies – provide a foundation for international growth. Finland’s ability to develop disruptive technologies strengthens our competitiveness, strategic autonomy and international partnerships and positions us as a key global player in RDI.

Health and wellbeing

RDI activities can promote health and wellbeing, support business and growth opportunities for companies in the sector and curb increases in the cost of public services. The health and welfare sector is growing rapidly worldwide, creating global export and growth opportunities for businesses. Finland is well positioned to establish itself as a global leader in the utilisation of genomic data, disease prevention, combined health data and AI-based treatment solutions in both society and business.

Climate, environment and the Arctic dimension

Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution require significant reforms, but they also offer opportunities for Finland to boost competitiveness and growth through RDI activities. Opportunities for renewal and growth stem from the phasing out of fossil fuels, the energy transition, the clean and digital transitions, climate and nature solutions, the circular economy, new material solutions, the sustainable bioeconomy, food production and the food system.

Finnish space, atmospheric and marine research expertise related to the Arctic environment provide a strong foundation for international RDI partnerships and strategic collaboration. The rapidly changing conditions in the Arctic and the current geopolitical situation underscore the importance of the region.

Security, resilience and defence

Compounding risks and accelerating changes in the global operating and security environment create a need to strengthen the resilience of society and business through RDI activities. At the same time, global defence expenditure is growing, more and more investments are being made in product development in the sector, and RDI cycles are accelerating. RDI activities can further increase the added value of the defence industry while developing the knowledge and innovation base needed for national defence and strengthening the foundation for the defence industry and technology.

Principles for developing the RDI system

The Research and Innovation Council has set two overarching priorities for developing the RDI system: increasing risk-taking capacity in RDI and attracting RDI investments to Finland.

Increasing the risk-taking capacity of RDI activities

Research and business activities must be able to connect issues and phenomena with an open mind, keep up with global development and markets and identify emerging opportunities. It is therefore especially important to improve the ability of researchers, research organisations and companies to take risks in their RDI activities and cooperation.

RDI policy and public funding should promote the emergence of new research initiatives, creative approaches and partnerships between sectors, as well as radical innovations. In addition to RDI policy and public funding, it is important to ensure that companies, higher education institutions and research organisations have a management and operating culture that boost risk-taking capacity.

Attracting RDI investments to Finland

Achieving the four per cent R&D expenditure target will be challenging with Finnish companies alone. This means that Finland needs to become a more attractive destination for RDI investments. This applies to both major international companies and companies that already operate in Finland and are considering investments in RDI.

An internationally competitive operating environment is a prerequisite for attracting experts and companies to Finland. Efforts must be made to create world-class RDI ecosystems in selected areas that are internationally competitive in terms of both quality and size. Finland has to develop its ability to attract RDI investments in areas where it excels and has a strong competence base.

Why were the strategic choices made?

The Parliamentary RDI Working Group, which operated during the 2019–2023 parliamentary term, stated that it would be important for Finland “to identify national strengths as well as the capabilities, strengths, needs and expertise of society and enterprises in taking advantage of global transformations. This can be used as a basis for formulating the national strategic choices that will define national development efforts and direct and pool resources."

The Government aims to accelerate sustainable economic growth with record-high additional investments in the R&D activities of higher education institutions, research organisations and businesses. The Research and Innovation Council is an advisory body whose work can be used by the Government to support its decision-making.

Choices are made continuously in the RDI system. These national strategic choices will support the long-term outlook needed by companies, investments, research and development activities, and scientists.

What preparations were involved in making the choices?

When making the strategic choices, the Research and Innovation Council relied on strengths identified by the Academy of Finland and Business Finland, choices already made, and foresight work and data. The preparations were carried out in open and inclusive collaboration with key stakeholders, such as financiers, RDI actors and representatives from a variety of sectors.

This is the first time the Research and Innovation Council has made strategic choices of this kind. The Research and Innovation Council will continue to monitor the RDI environment and will identify and define new strategic choices in the coming years as necessary.